Two Guns Dispersed Camping

I loved this stop! Sure, it’s not a secluded forest or a bomb desert spot (well, it kinda is, but it’s definitely not secluded).

There is so much history here! That, teemed with its quirkiness, being on Google Maps, and also being right off of I-40 makes it a fairly high-traffic area for explorers, and truckers stopping over for the night. I was weary of all the traffic, but I was safe alone to sleep over night and work from my RV until about 5pm EST. And the Internet was great!

I didn’t get to explore everything because I got there right before sunset, and the next day, it poured pretty hard. But I did get to check out the graffiti gas station and the pool over by the old trading post (as a skater, I enjoyed seeing it, but there was a lot of water in it). I also saw what was (maybe?) one of the Apache Death Caves.

Legend has it, the Navajo and Apache were battling (there are a lot more details on Atlas Obscura and other sites), but in short, Navajo found Apache in the cave and set it on fire, killing the Apache.

There is a lot of other history of failed businesses and drama in Two Guns that is easily found on the internet. It’s definitely a place worth checking out and reading about.

I have read the previous reviews, and they are pretty much spot on. There are actually several separate areas where you can camp/park, each with their own plusses/minuses. As you first come off the exit ramp, crossing the first cattleguard, there is a dirt parking lot to the left, used by truckers (they also overnight right on the on/off ramps, as traffic is minimal). To the right is a paved road, the original Rt 66, which leads to the actual "Two Guns", which was a combination zoo and wild west theme park (sort of). There are several dirt lots near the site, all large enough for large rigs towing to turn around. Although there were many curiosity seekers driving down to there, I saw MANY old nails scattered around here, and broken glass, so I don't recommend here.
Crossing the second cattle guard, there is an abandoned gas station to the left, with a large paved lot, and a gravel lot to the left. The building is actually in pretty good shape, and people often park inside the service bays while exploring. It is literally the only shade in the area. To the right is an old convenience store/trading post, with a large gravel lot in front, and another around back to the right. Nice and level, if you don't mind the highway noise.
Passing the station, you go through small stone posts and follow the dirt road up the hill you come to a fork. To the right, at the top of the hill, is the old KOA campground. It is overgrown, with a few dilapidated buildings, but there are many level sites here. One thing to note is that local kids often come up here to skateboard in and around the pool. There appeared to be one semi-permanent resident camped here. The left fork takes you around to a large gravel pit. There appeared to be a couple of semi-permanent campers set up here. Piles of gravel/sand offer some buffer from the highway noise, which isn't really bad anyways.
Although there were many tourists/ curiosity seekers during the days I was here, there was never an overabundance of them, just a constant flow. There really isn't that much to see, just a few ruined stone buildings and the "death cave". It was a great place to park after I had used up my 14 days in the Coconino, waiting for the Nat. Park and Forest Service campgrounds to open up. Verizon was great here 29.5 MPS download. Free dump and fill at the Maverik station near Wally in Winslow.

Wow the review is absolutely correct. This spot is not for everyone but it is for us. We got here at 4:30 and fixed dinner and walked around what was the campground. What a treat, we were going to camp at Cracker Barrel in Flagstaff but found this just as we were coming west on I40. It is right off of I40 so you do have freeway traffic noise but no big deal to us. Love this place. But like the previous reviewer said not for everyone.

Two Guns is a Route 66 ghost town with an interesting history, and an interesting present state. I'm going to throw out there that this overnighting/boondocking spot is not going to be for everyone.

There are various buildings in strong states of decay - most are heavily graffitied/vandalized. Set back a bit is an abandoned KOA. It's pretty neat. It could be the coolest KOA you've ever stayed at. And it's free.

It is adjacent to I-40, with the ghost town being the only thing serviced by the Two Guns exit. You can get pretty far back on the property area, if you've got a smaller/4x4 rig. The area is accessible to larger rigs up near the front of the property - if you're cool with pot-holed areas of road. The drive here is dirt, and while the dirt road back to the old KOA is definetely drive-able, it is pot-holed at places - especially currently at the cattle guard to enter the area.

This area is pretty heavily trafficked by interested urban decay explorers, so if strangers poking around the area you are boondocking bothers you, this might not be your ideal stop. There is also quite a bit of litter around the building especially. It's a super neat place to explore.

The property is apparently (rumor) owned by Russell Crowe, but who knows if that's true. The area surrounding these buildings appears to be used/owned by a local ranch - but again, unverifiable. When we were there there were no signs prohibiting ANYTHING - not even a tiny 'no trespassing.' But, I would suggest moving along if you are asked to move along, since this spot is not marked as being on BLM or public lands.